VEHICLE GRIP STRUCTURE

Abstract

There is provided a vehicle grip structure to be mounted on a handlebar of a vehicle including: a grip body configured to be fixed to and in contact with the handlebar; and protruding portions protruding from the grip body in a direction orthogonal to an axis of the handlebar and arranged side by side in an axial direction. The protruding portions include: a plurality of main protrusions forming a grip portion to be gripped by a user; and a plurality of sub-protrusions having a smaller protruding amount than the main protrusions.

Claims

1. A vehicle grip structure to be mounted on a handlebar of a vehicle, the vehicle grip structure comprising: a grip body configured to be fixed to and in contact with the handlebar; and protruding portions protruding from the grip body in a direction orthogonal to an axis of the handlebar and arranged side by side in an axial direction, wherein the protruding portions include: a plurality of main protrusions forming a grip portion to be gripped by a user; and a plurality of sub-protrusions having a smaller protruding amount than the main protrusions.

2. The vehicle grip structure according to claim 1, wherein the sub-protrusions have a design shape.

3. The vehicle grip structure according to claim 2, wherein the main protrusions and the sub-protrusions have different external shapes when viewed from a radial direction of the grip body.

4. The vehicle grip structure according to claim 3, wherein the main protrusions include a plurality of plate members arranged side by side in the axial direction of the handlebar and extending in the radial direction.

5. The vehicle grip structure according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of sub-protrusions arranged side by side in the axial direction have different shapes in the axial direction.

6. The vehicle grip structure according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of sub-protrusions have different shapes in a circumferential direction.

7. The vehicle grip structure according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of sub-protrusions arranged side by side in the axial direction have different shapes in the axial direction and a circumferential direction.

8. The vehicle grip structure according to claim 1, wherein the sub-protrusions are disposed among the main protrusions are arranged side by side in the axial direction.

9. The vehicle grip structure according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of sub-protrusions have a protruding amount increasing from two ends in a front-rear direction toward two ends in an upper-lower direction in a state of being fixed to the handlebar.

10. The vehicle grip structure according to claim 1, wherein a positioning mark is formed on the grip body.

11. The vehicle grip structure according to claim 1, wherein the main protrusions are formed on an entire circumference of the handlebar.

12. The vehicle grip structure according to claim 1, wherein outer edges of the main protrusions have a columnar shape.

13. A personal watercraft comprising the grip structure according to claim 1.

14. A vehicle comprising the grip structure according to claim 1.

15. A vehicle grip structure comprising: a grip body configured to be fixed to and in contact with a handlebar; and a plurality of protruding portions protruding from the grip body in a direction orthogonal to an axis of the handlebar and arranged side by side in an axial direction, wherein the protrusions include: a plurality of main protrusions forming a portion to be gripped by a user and arranged side by side at an interval in the axial direction of the handlebar; and a plurality of sub-protrusions disposed among a part of the main protrusions arranged side by side in the axial direction, the sub-protrusions having a smaller protruding amount than the main protrusions, and coupling the main protrusions arranged side by side in the axial direction.

16. The vehicle grip structure according to claim 15, wherein the plurality of sub-protrusions have a protruding amount increasing from two ends in a first direction passing through an axial center and extending in a radial direction toward two ends in a second direction passing through the axial center and orthogonal to the first direction.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0008] FIG. 1 is a front view illustrating a steering handle of a personal watercraft that is a type of vehicle having a grip structure according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0009] FIG. 2 is a plan view of the grip structure as viewed from a radial direction of a handlebar;

[0010] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the grip structure as viewed from outside of the vehicle;

[0011] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along a line IV-IV in FIG. 2; and

[0012] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along a line V-V in FIG. 2.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0013] Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 illustrates an upper half of a steering handle of a personal watercraft that is a type of vehicle having a grip structure according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure. The grip structure according to the present embodiment is mounted on each of a pair of left and right handlebars 2 of the personal watercraft. In the present embodiment, each of the handlebars 2 has a columnar shape.

[0014] In the following description, an "axial direction" refers to a direction parallel to an axis AX of the handlebar 2, and a "circumferential direction" refers to a circumferential direction of the axis AX of the handlebar 2. A "radial direction" refers to a radial direction of the handlebar 2, that is, a direction orthogonal to the axis AX of the handlebar 2.

[0015] As illustrated in FIG. 2, the grip structure according to the present embodiment includes a grip body 4 fixed to the handlebar 2 and protruding portions 6 protruding from the grip body 4 in the radial direction. The grip body 4 has a grip region 4a in which the protruding portions 6 are formed, and end portions 4b, 4b on two end sides in the axial direction. The grip region 4a is a region gripped by a driver during traveling. The end portions 4b, 4b have a larger diameter than the protruding portions 6.

[0016] The grip body 4 and the protruding portions 6 are integrally formed of the same material, in the present embodiment, a rubber material. The material of the grip body 4 and the protruding portions 6 is not limited thereto, and may be, for example, a resin material other than rubber. A flexible material that is deformed when gripped by the driver is preferably used as the material from a viewpoint of slip resistance, vibration isolation, and the like. The grip body 4 and the protruding portions 6 may be made of different materials.

[0017] The grip body 4 has a cylindrical shape and is fitted to an outer circumferential surface of the handlebar 2. That is, the grip body 4 is fixed in contact with the handlebar 2.

[0018] The grip body 4 according to the present embodiment is an integral structural component molded by a mold divided into two. Specifically, in the grip body 4 according to the present embodiment, the mold is divided in an upper-lower direction set in a state in which the handlebar 2 is mounted on the vehicle. That is, in the present embodiment, there are two joint portions 8 extending in the axial direction and separated from each other in the circumferential direction. In the present embodiment, the handlebar 2 and the grip body 4 are bonded to each other with a bonding agent in a state in which the grip body 4 is fitted to the handlebar 2. The grip body 4 is bonded to the handlebar 2 with the bonding agent in a state of being positioned in a predetermined position in the circumferential direction and the axial direction.

[0019] A positioning mark 14 is formed on an outer circumferential surface of the grip body 4. The positioning mark 14 indicates a circumferential position of the grip body 4 relative to the handlebar 2 when the grip body 4 is attached to the handlebar 2. Providing the positioning mark 14 improves ease of assembly of the grip. In the present embodiment, the positioning mark 14 is a convex portion formed on the end portion 4b of the grip body 4 in the axial direction. A position and a shape of the positioning mark 14 are not limited thereto. The positioning mark 14 may have, for example, a concave shape, may have different texture by embossing or the like, and may have a different color.

[0020] The positioning mark 14 according to the present embodiment is formed in a protruding shape protruding from a remaining part. The positioning mark 14 is formed integrally with the grip body 4 by molding, and has a different shape in the circumferential direction. Forming the positioning mark 14 by molding can reduce the number of work steps as compared with a case of forming the positioning mark 14 by a method other than molding. Since the positioning mark 14 is formed at the end portion in the axial direction, the positioning mark 14 can be prevented from affecting a grip feeling as compared with a case of being formed at a grip portion.

[0021] In the present embodiment, a groove 16 is formed in the end portion 4b of the grip body 4 in the axial direction in the entire circumferential direction. Providing the circumferential groove 16 accents an appearance and improves a design. One of the positioning mark 14 and the groove 16 may be omitted, and both the positioning mark 14 and the groove 16 may be omitted.

[0022] The protruding portions 6 include a plurality of protrusions arranged side by side in the axial direction. Specifically, the protruding portions 6 include a plurality of main protrusions 10 forming a grip portion to be gripped by the driver, and a plurality of sub-protrusions 12 having a smaller protruding amount than the main protrusions 10. That is, as illustrated in FIG. 4, a protruding amount h1 of the main protrusions 10 is larger than a protruding amount h2 of the sub-protrusions 12 (h1 > h2). Here, the "protruding amount" refers to a protruding amount from the outer circumferential surface of the grip body 4 (grip region 4a), that is, a radial length from a base end of the protruding portion 6 to a top end of the protruding portion 6.

[0023] The grip region 4a, which is a region of the grip body 4 where the protruding portions 6 are formed, has a cylindrical shape with a uniform outer shape. The protruding portions 6 according to the present embodiment formed by molding have different protruding amounts h1, h2 in the radial direction when positions in the circumferential direction are different. The protruding amounts h1, h2 may increase as a distance in the upper-lower direction from a horizontal plane passing a center of the handlebar 2 increases.

[0024] As illustrated in FIG. 2, in the present embodiment, the main protrusions 10 are formed on the grip body 4, that is, on an entire circumference of the handlebar 2. Specifically, the main protrusions 10 include a plurality of disk-shaped portions arranged side by side in the axial direction of the handlebar 2 and extending in the radial direction. In the present embodiment, the protruding amount h1 of the main protrusions 10 remains the same in the axial direction. That is, outer edges of the main protrusions 10 have a columnar shape as a whole. The protruding amounts h1, h2 of the main protrusions 10 and the sub-protrusions 12 may differ depending on circumferential positions.

[0025] The sub-protrusions 12 have an external shape different from that of the main protrusions 10 when viewed from the radial direction of the grip body 4. Specifically, as illustrated in FIG. 4, the sub-protrusions 12 are disposed among the main protrusions 10, which are arranged side by side in the axial direction. In other words, the sub-protrusions 12 are disposed among the main protrusions 10 in the axial direction and couple the main protrusions 10, which are arranged side by side in the axial direction. Accordingly, a deformation amount when an external force is applied can be changed depending on a position of a grip, and a deformation amount of the grip body 4 when the handlebar 2 is gripped can be made different.

[0026] Specifically, positions indicated by arrows H1 where the sub-protrusions 12 are formed are hard, and positions indicated by arrows H2 where the sub-protrusions 12 are not formed are soft. As a result, grip performance and operability of the vehicle are improved. In a part indicated by the arrow H1, the sub-protrusion 12 having a small length in the radial direction is less likely to deform and bend even when gripped with the same force, and thus the positions indicated by arrows H1 are hard. Here, "grip performance" refers to a fit feeling and ease of transmitting a grip force to the handlebar 2 when the handlebar 2 is gripped. In the present embodiment, the protruding amounts h1, h2 of the main protrusions 10 and the sub-protrusions 12 remain the same in the axial direction, and may also be different depending on axial positions.

[0027] The plurality of sub-protrusions 12 arranged side by side in the axial direction have different shapes in the axial direction. In the present embodiment, the sub-protrusions 12 have line symmetry with a plane passing the axis AX of the handlebar 2 as an axis of symmetry.

[0028] As illustrated in FIG. 5, the plurality of sub-protrusions 12 have different shapes in the circumferential direction. In the present embodiment, the sub-protrusions 12 have line symmetry relative to a plane passing an axis orthogonal to the axis AX of the handlebar 2. Specifically, the sub-protrusions 12 have line symmetry relative to a plane passing a horizontal line L1 extending in a front-rear direction through the axis AX of the handlebar 2 and line symmetry relative to a vertical line L2 extending in the upper-lower direction through the axis AX of the handlebar 2.

[0029] In this manner, in the present embodiment, the sub-protrusions 12 have different shapes in both the axial direction and the circumferential direction. The sub-protrusions 12 have different patterns and shapes in the circumferential direction in the joint portions 8 of the grip body 4.

[0030] The sub-protrusions 12 may have a design shape such as a design or a logo. The design shape is, for example, a geometric assembly structure. In the present embodiment, the sub-protrusions 12 have a diamond assembly structure. A size and the number of diamond patterns are set such that corners of the diamonds are connected when the diamonds make one round in the circumferential direction. The design shape is not limited to the diamond assembly structure, and may be, for example, a hexagonal assembly structure or a combination of a plurality of patterns.

[0031] As illustrated in FIG. 2, diamond patterns of the inner sub-protrusions 12 can be visually recognized when viewed from the radial direction of the handlebar 2. That is, the diamond patterns of the sub-protrusions 12 can be visually recognized from a viewpoint of the driver on the vehicle. As illustrated in FIG. 3, the diamond patterns of the inner sub-protrusions 12 are hidden by the outer main protrusions 10 and cannot be visually recognized when viewed obliquely from outside. In this manner, in the grip structure according to the present embodiment, the inner sub-protrusions 12 are visible or invisible depending on a viewing angle. Accordingly, a dual appearance can be implemented.

[0032] As illustrated in FIG. 5, in the present embodiment, the plurality of sub-protrusions 12 have substantially the same protruding amount h2. The sub-protrusions 12 may also be formed such that the protruding amount h2 increases from two ends in a first radial direction toward two ends in a second radial direction in a state of being fixed to the handlebar 2. In this case, the first radial direction may be, for example, the front-rear direction, and the second radial direction may be, for example, the upper-lower direction. Accordingly, a deformation amount at the two ends in the front-rear direction of the grip structure is easily made larger than that at the two ends in the upper-lower direction.

[0033] According to the above configuration, as illustrated in FIG. 4, a deformation amount of a grip in a gripped state can be adjusted by providing a plurality of types of protruding portions 6 having different heights, that is, different protruding amounts. Accordingly, the grip can be provided with large and small deformation amounts, that is, a part having a large deformation amount and a part having a small deformation amount, and the grip performance can be improved.

[0034] In the present embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 2, the sub-protrusions 12 have a design shape such as a design or a logo. This makes it possible to achieve both grip performance and design performance. The design shape would not disappear since the sub-protrusions 12 do not wear even when the main protrusions 10 forming a grip portion wear.

[0035] In the present embodiment, the main protrusions 10 include a plurality of plate-shaped members arranged side by side in the axial direction of the handlebar 2 and extending in the radial direction. That is, the main protrusions 10 and the sub-protrusions 12 have different external shapes when viewed from the radial direction of the grip body 4. According to this configuration, the design shape of the sub-protrusions 12 can be visually recognized from the driver's viewpoint, and cannot be visually recognized from outside. Accordingly, a dual appearance can be constructed.

[0036] In the present embodiment, the plurality of sub-protrusions 12 arranged side by side in the axial direction illustrated in FIG. 4 have different shapes in the axial direction. The plurality of sub-protrusions 12 illustrated in FIG. 5 also have different shapes in the circumferential direction. According to this configuration, the deformation amount of the grip is easily adjusted for each axial portion and each circumferential portion of the grip. Further, it is easy to make the appearance design different using the sub-protrusions 12.

[0037] In the present embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 4, the sub-protrusions 12 are disposed among the main protrusions 10, which are arranged side by side in the axial direction. According to this configuration, the appearance can be made different between the case where the sub-protrusions 12 are hidden by the main protrusions 10 and the case where the sub-protrusions 12 are exposed among the main protrusions 10.

[0038] In the present embodiment, as illustrated in FIG. 2, the positioning mark 14 is formed on the grip body 4. This improves ease of assembly of the grip.

[0039] In the present embodiment, the main protrusions 10 are formed on the entire circumference of the handlebar 2. According to this configuration, the grip drains water easily even when exposed to rain, water splashes, and the like during traveling. Therefore, the grip is also applicable to vehicles that are likely to be exposed to rain and water splashes during traveling, such as motorcycles and personal watercrafts.

[0040] In the present embodiment, the outer edges of the main protrusions 10 have a columnar shape. According to this configuration, it is easy to grip the main protrusion 10 which is a grip portion even when a posture of the driver is different.

[0041] The grip structure of the present disclosure can be suitably used for a handle of a personal watercraft. The grip structure of the present disclosure is also applicable to, in addition to the personal watercraft, a handle of a straddle-type vehicle such as a motorcycle, a three-wheeled vehicle, or a four-wheeled buggy, or a handle of another vehicle. The grip structure of the present disclosure can be applied to, for example, a handle of a four-wheeled vehicle traveling on rough terrain. In this case, the present disclosure may be applied to a T-shaped handlebar to be gripped by an occupant other than the driver to support the own body against vehicle body shaking or inertial force changes during traveling on an uneven road.

[0042] The vehicle grip structure of the present disclosure includes the following aspects 1 to 16.

(Aspect 1)

[0043] A vehicle grip structure to be mounted on a handlebar of a vehicle includes: a grip body configured to be fixed to and in contact with the handlebar; and protruding portions protruding from the grip body in a direction orthogonal to an axis of the handlebar and arranged side by side in an axial direction, in which the protruding portions include:

[0044] a plurality of main protrusions forming a grip portion to be gripped by a user; and

[0045] a plurality of sub-protrusions having a smaller protruding amount than the main protrusions.

(Aspect 2)

[0046] In the vehicle grip structure according to Aspect 1, the sub-protrusions have a design shape.

(Aspect 3)

[0047] In the vehicle grip structure according to Aspect 2, the main protrusions and the sub-protrusions have different external shapes when viewed from a radial direction of the grip body.

(Aspect 4)

[0048] In the vehicle grip structure according to Aspect 3, the main protrusions include a plurality of plate members arranged side by side in the axial direction of the handlebar and extending in the radial direction.

(Aspect 5)

[0049] In the vehicle grip structure according to any one of Aspects 1 to 4, the plurality of sub-protrusions arranged side by side in the axial direction have different shapes in the axial direction.

(Aspect 6)

[0050] In the vehicle grip structure according to any one of Aspects 1 to 4, the plurality of sub-protrusions have different shapes in a circumferential direction.

(Aspect 7)

[0051] In the vehicle grip structure according to any one of Aspects 1 to 4, the plurality of sub-protrusions arranged side by side in the axial direction have different shapes in the axial direction and a circumferential direction.

(Aspect 8)

[0052] In the vehicle grip structure according to any one of Aspects 1 to 7, the sub-protrusions are disposed among the main protrusions are arranged side by side in the axial direction.

(Aspect 9)

[0053] In the vehicle grip structure according to any one of Aspects 1 to 8, the plurality of sub-protrusions have a protruding amount increasing from two ends in a front-rear direction toward two ends in an upper-lower direction in a state of being fixed to the handlebar.

(Aspect 10)

[0054] In the vehicle grip structure according to any one of Aspects 1 to 9, a positioning mark is formed on the grip body.

(Aspect 11)

[0055] In the vehicle grip structure according to any one of Aspects 1 to 10, the main protrusions are formed on an entire circumference of the handlebar.

(Aspect 12)

[0056] In the vehicle grip structure according to any one of Aspects 1 to 11, outer edges of the main protrusions have a columnar shape.

(Aspect 13)

[0057] A personal watercraft includes the grip structure according to any one of Aspects 1 to 12.

(Aspect 14)

[0058] A vehicle includes the grip structure according to any one of Aspects 1 to 13.

(Aspect 15)

[0059] A vehicle grip structure includes:

[0060] a grip body configured to be fixed to and in contact with a handlebar; and a plurality of protruding portions protruding from the grip body in a direction orthogonal to an axis of the handlebar and arranged side by side in an axial direction, in which the protrusions include:

[0061] a plurality of main protrusions forming a portion to be gripped by a user and arranged side by side at an interval in the axial direction of the handlebar; and

[0062] a plurality of sub-protrusions disposed among a part of the main protrusions arranged side by side in the axial direction, the sub-protrusions having a smaller protruding amount than the main protrusions, and coupling the main protrusions arranged side by side in the axial direction.

[0063] (Aspect 16)

[0064] In the vehicle grip structure according to Aspect 15, the plurality of sub-protrusions have a protruding amount increasing from two ends in a first direction passing through an axial center and extending in a radial direction toward two ends in a second direction passing through the axial center and orthogonal to the first direction.

[0065] The present disclosure is not limited to the above embodiment, and various additions, modifications, and deletions can be made without departing from the gist of the present disclosure. For example, in the above embodiment, the protruding portions 6 have a two-layer structure including the main protrusion 10 and the sub-protrusion 12, and may have three or more layers. Therefore, such a configuration is also included in the scope of the present disclosure.